Why You Need to Read Dungeon Crawler Carl (Even If You Go In Blind)

I went into this book completely blind, and honestly, it all started because of my son.

He lives all the way across the United States, and out of nowhere, he sent me a picture of a book cover and asked if I'd ever heard of it. I nearly dropped my phone. “Oh my gosh, I almost purchased that book yesterday!” I told him.

He admitted he was already three chapters in. As a massive book lover, I immediately wanted to know where he got it, secretly hoping he had tracked down a great indie bookstore. He did find a great local shop—but there was a catch. He hadn’t actually bought it yet! Instead, he was going there every single day on his lunch break and reading one chapter right there store.

The mom and book lover in me had to step in. I told him, “Son stop fingering the book and just purchase it!”

When my son tried to explain the plot to me, he said it felt exactly like playing a game of Dungeons & Dragons. Which the cool mom in me is part of his DnD party, so I knew what he was explaining to me. I was a kid from the 80s!!

What I truly did not expect was just how hilariously funny and even goofy at times. It never faulters with the snide condescending comments and the RPG format.  

Even though life got in the way for me—causing me to take way longer to finish it than I should have—I absolutely could not put it down whenever I had it in my hands. It is an incredibly fast, gripping read.

If you love dystopian fiction, end-of-the-world sagas, or underdog stories where a character gets absolutely pummeled by the world and still fights their way through, this is the book for you.

The first book wraps up its chaotic journey at the end of Level Three, leaving you completely hooked for what comes next. Take it from me and my son: don't just skim it at the bookstore. Go buy a copy. You won't regret it.

** I purchased book 2 a week after I started reading it. Listed below is the full series at it current state.

1. Book 1: Dungeon Crawler Carl (2020)
2. Book 2: Carl's Doomsday Scenario (2021)
3. Book 3: The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook (2021)
4. Book 4: The Gate of the Feral Gods (2021)
5. Book 5: The Butcher's Masquerade (2022)
6. Book 6: The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (2023)
7. Book 7: This Inevitable Ruin (2025)
8. Book 8: A Parade of Horribles (2026)

Ducks: Two years in the oil sands

 

Let me start by saying that while graphic novels aren't everyone's cup of tea, they are definitely mine. I usually prefer somewhat relatable, everyday storylines. You know, normal, "could-happen-to-anyone" topics—like a group of girls finding a wormhole and traveling to another dimension to save their world, or a virus turning everyone into the walking dead while a group of strangers becomes a family to fight for survival.

I saw this specific book on a "must-read" list and, since I try to add a graphic novel or two to my yearly reading list, I decided to check it out. It happened to be available through my library. SCORE!

I didn't expect it to be as thick as it was, which is strange because it is only about 430 pages. The most amazing part? It’s actually a biography. YES! I love that concept, and the fact that the author illustrated the entire book herself is incredible. Just look at that cover! The illustration of the surroundings on such a vast scale was absolutely phenomenal. Honestly, the artwork alone convinced me to bump my rating from two stars up to a three.

As for the story itself, it was a heavy read. It could be my own naivety about what some women go through, or simply because I have thankfully never had to endure those situations myself. I have never dealt with such unbelievably rude, crude comments, so parts of it were hard for me to wrap my head around.

I truly feel for Kate and all the women who felt they had no choice but to subject themselves to that environment. I just can't fathom how no one warned anyone else, or why it wasn't spoken about until you were right there in the middle of it. Why would you not warn your own sister, of all people? That lack of warning was one of the major reasons I had a hard time processing that this was a reality for the author.

Memorable Quotes:

• "Everything's ruined. Our lives, our lands are ruined... our water, the air, everything."
• "Their almighty dollar comes first. That's pretty sad. You can't eat money."
• "At the cost of our lives—as long as they get their money. They don't care how many of us they kill off."

Ultimately, I still love the concept of a graphic novel biography, but this particular read left me wondering if the medium always works for such heavy, real-world themes.